Practical guide
How to report to official bodies
If you believe you have had a negative experience with a financial entity, acting with information is key. Here you will find steps to follow, bodies to contact and how to contribute to the portal to help other citizens. This portal does not handle complaints and does not initiate legal action.
1. Before acting: gather evidence
Before filing any complaint with an official body, it is essential to gather as much documentation as possible:
- —Screenshots of conversations, emails, and contracts.
- —Records of bank transfers or cryptocurrency movements.
- —Names, phone numbers, and social media profiles of the alleged perpetrators.
- —URLs of the platforms or websites involved.
- —Any document proving a relationship with the entity (contracts, invoices, etc.).
2. Report in the UK
FCA — Financial Conduct Authority
The UK's financial regulator. First port of call for reporting investment companies, brokers, funds or entities operating without authorisation in financial markets.
fca.org.uk · Scamsmart / Report a firm
Go to FCA ↗Action Fraud
National reporting centre for fraud and cybercrime in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
actionfraud.police.uk
Go to Action Fraud ↗Police Scotland — Cybercrime
For fraud with a criminal element in Scotland.
scotland.police.uk
Go to Police Scotland ↗Serious Fraud Office (SFO)
Investigates and prosecutes serious or complex fraud, bribery and corruption.
sfo.gov.uk
Go to SFO ↗3. Report internationally
CNMV — Comisión Nacional del Mercado de Valores (Spain)
Spain's securities market supervisor. Report companies operating without authorisation in the Spanish financial market.
cnmv.es · Complaints section
Go to CNMV ↗IC3 — Internet Crime Complaint Center (USA)
For fraud involving entities or individuals in the United States.
ic3.gov
Go to IC3 ↗SEC — Securities and Exchange Commission (USA)
US securities regulator. You can report suspected investment fraud directly on their portal.
sec.gov/tcr · Report form
Go to SEC ↗CySEC — Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission
Cyprus financial regulator. You can verify licences and report irregularities.
cysec.gov.cy · Complaints
Go to SEC ↗ESMA — European Securities and Markets Authority
European securities markets authority. Coordinates with national regulators of EU member states.
esma.europa.eu
Go to ESMA ↗Europol
For fraud with a transnational dimension or involving organised crime. Complaints are channelled through national police forces.
europol.europa.eu
Go to Europol ↗4. How to contribute to this portal
In addition to contacting the relevant bodies, you can help guide other citizens by submitting an informational report through our form. When doing so, please keep in mind:
- —Be as specific as possible: exact company name, website domain and description of the experience.
- —Do not include personal data about yourself that you do not wish to make public.
- —Do not include unnecessary personal data about third parties.
- —Ensure the information you provide is true to the best of your knowledge.
- —This report does not replace a formal complaint to the relevant authorities.
5. Protect yourself from recovery fraud
People who have had negative experiences with financial entities are especially vulnerable to a second type of fraudulent contact: third parties posing as lawyers, regulators or platforms like this one, offering to recover money in exchange for an upfront payment.
Warning signs of this type of contact:
- —They contact you without you having requested it.
- —They ask for an upfront payment to start any process.
- —They claim to have agreements with regulators or police authorities.
- —They guarantee full recovery of your money.
- —They pressure you to act quickly or in secret.